Suture anchor

Abstract

A suture anchor includes a generally circular body, a pair of wings, a filament, and center opening formed through the circular body. The circular body includes an outer diameter and an inner diameter bounding the center opening, and defines a generally vertical centerline and a vertical tangential plane. The wings generally extend beyond the vertical centerline to a distance approximate to, greater than, or less than the vertical tangential plane thereof. The filament is threaded at least once through a portion of the circular body. The circular anchor body forms a ring providing improved structural integrity and anchoring retention, and enables a lateral row surgical attachment technique.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suture anchor comprising:
 a flexible anchoring loop comprising a generally circular ring of flexible material having an outer diameter and defining a central opening having an inner diameter, the flexible material having a first thickness; and   a suture filament threaded through the flexible anchoring loop, the suture filament having a second thickness less than the first thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The suture anchor of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of wings extending from the anchoring loop. 
     
     
         3 . The suture anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring loop comprises a braided suture material. 
     
     
         4 . The suture anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the suture filament is threaded through the anchoring loop at a plurality points spaced about the anchoring loop. 
     
     
         5 . The suture anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the suture filament is threaded through the anchoring loop a plurality of times at two or more spaced apart locations about the generally circular ring. 
     
     
         6 . A suture anchor comprising:
 a generally circular body comprising an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the circular body defining a generally vertical centerline and a vertical tangential plane;   a pair of wings generally extending outwardly and oppositely from each other about portions of the circular body, the wings generally extending beyond the vertical centerline to a distance approximate to, greater than, or less than the vertical tangential plane thereof; and   a filament threaded at least once through a portion of the circular body.   
     
     
         7 . The suture anchor of  claim 6 , further comprising an aperture formed through a portion of the circular body. 
     
     
         8 . The suture anchor of  claim 7 , further comprising an elongate member for extending through the aperture and coupling to a portion of the circular body whereby directional and positional control of the circular element can be established to place the circular element as desired. 
     
     
         9 . The suture anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the circular body and the pair of wings are formed from a braided ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The suture anchor of  claim 6 , comprising a bioresorbable material. 
     
     
         11 . A method of anchoring filament to a bone comprising:
 providing an anchor comprising a generally circular ring of flexible material having an outer diameter and defining a central opening having an inner diameter, and a filament threaded at least once through the generally circular ring of flexible material;   providing an elongated placement tool comprising a coupling end having a pair of fingers extending therefrom;   engaging the anchor with the fingers of the placement tool; and   establishing directional and positional control of the anchor with the placement tool to place the anchor at an anchoring site.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the anchor comprises a pair of wings extending from the generally circular ring of flexible material, the wings engaging within the anchoring site upon placement of the anchor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the anchor comprises an aperture through the generally circular ring of flexible material, and wherein the placement tool is inserted through the aperture to place the anchor. 
     
     
         14 . A method of anchoring filament to a bone comprising:
 providing a an anchor comprising a generally circular anchor body element, and a filament material threaded through at least a portion of the circular element;   providing a cylindrical installation tool comprising a lumen extending therethrough;   movably mounting the anchor within the lumen of the cylindrical installation tool;   actuating a longitudinal displacement member through the lumen of the cylindrical installation tool to position and place the anchor at an anchoring site.   
     
     
         15 . An all-suture surgical suture anchor comprising:
 an anchor body comprising a complete ring of flexible material;   at least one suture filament interwoven through at least a portion of the anchor body.   
     
     
         16 . A rescue anchor comprising a three-dimensional anchor body comprising at least one ring of flexible anchor material, and at least one suture filament at least partially embedded in the three-dimensional anchor body. 
     
     
         17 . The suture anchor of  claim 14 , wherein the three-dimensional anchor body comprises a pair of interconnected rings. 
     
     
         18 . A lateral row surgical anchoring technique comprising:
 medial row fixation of soft tissue to bone with at least one medial row anchor, each medial row anchor comprising a medial row anchor body and at least one medial row suture filament;   passing the suture filament of a medial row anchor through an inner diameter of a lateral row anchor, the lateral row anchor comprising a ring shaped lateral row anchor body defining the inner diameter and at least one lateral row suture filament;   anchoring the ring shaped anchor body of the lateral row anchor to bone;   stitching soft tissue with the lateral row suture filament; and   tying the medial row suture filament to connect the medial row anchor and the lateral row anchor.   
     
     
         19 . The lateral row surgical anchoring technique of  claim 16 , wherein the bone is the humerus, and the soft tissue is rotator cuff or labral tissue of a shoulder. 
     
     
         20 . An all-suture anchor configured for use as the medial row anchor and/or the lateral row anchor in the anchoring technique of  claim 16 .